Horn button mounting



July 17, 1934.

W. A.---K -ULL HORN BUTTON MOUNT ING Filed Jan. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

Dlhlin d. [all July 17, 1934. w. A. KULL 1,967,030

HORN BUTTON MOUNTING Filed Jan. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES HORN BUTTON MOUNTING Walter A. Kull, Saginaw, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application January 27, 1933, Serial No. 653,821

' 3 Claims.

This invention relates to steering columns and has particular reference to the mounting of the horn button in the bowl of the steering column.

It is common practice to mount or arrange the horn button in the bowl at the center of the steering column. In the past the button .has been secured by retaining screws which are objectionable from the appearance standpoint. The button has also been retained by the use of a rubber 1() insert lock; by the use of a threaded retaining ring screwed to a member locked on the wheel; or by the use of a tube which extended through the entire length of the steering column and was adjustable from its lower end. All of these methods, while satisfactory, were objectionable from the appearance standpoint and were not as quickly and easily installed or removed as the devices of the present invention.

It is the object of the invention to arrange or mount the horn button in the steering column so that it eliminates the objectionable screws, rings, etc., of prior constructions and lends itself to a quicker and more ready installation. The horn button is also removably connected by 5 means of a detachable connection so that it may be very quickly removed to repair or replace any of the parts. The quick-detachable connection comprises a tongue-in-groove or slotted connection.

In the structure of the invention use is made of two coil springs, one of which is much stronger than the other. The strong spring is used to press upwardly the electric contact of the horn while the weaker spring is used solely to keep the horn button contact away from the horn contact. When the horn button is depressed it will first depress the weaker spring to make the electric contact, but a much greater degree of pressure is required to depress the horn button in order to close the stronger coil spring.

0n the drawings Figure l is a sectional view through the center portion of a steering wheel showing one form of the invention applied.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the quick detachable connection before the horn button has been turned to secure it in position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 but with the horn button rotated 45.

Figure 4 is a perspective expanded view showing the horn button and upper or weaker spring detached from the bowl ofthe steering column.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of a modification.

Figure 6 is an expanded perspective view of I the structure of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of another modification.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of a position of a portion of the horn button showing the recess for forming the quick detachable connection.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of a portion of the quick detachable connection showing the parts in full line in the normal position of the horn and in dotted line in the position the horn button takes when depressed to sound the horn.

Figure 10 is a View corresponding to Figure 9 showing the position of the horn button when it is desired to turn it either to fix it in position or to remove it.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates the usual steering column or post used on automotive vehicles. Inside the post there is the usual steering tube, the tapered portion 4 of which is shown. The tapered portion 4 is threaded as at 6. The steering wheel 8 has the hollow bowl portion 10 and the hub portion 12. The hub portion 12 fits over the tapered portion 4 and has a key-way 14 which mates with a suit.- able key-way (not shown) in the tapered portion 4. A key 16 in the key-ways forms an interlock therebetween and causes the turning of the steering column to steer the vehicle when the wheel 8 is turned. A nut 18 inside the bowl 10 is threaded on the tapered portion 6 and prevents the steering wheel 8 from being withdrawn from the steering tube 4.

A throttle control tube 20 is turnably mounted inside the steering tube 4 and has the handle 22 secured thereto by means of the bolt 24. An angular member 26 is attached to the handle 22, extends upwardly over the edge of the bowl 10 and has the operating member 28 secured thereto.

A headlight control tube 30 is telescopically mounted inside the throttle control tube 20 and a handle 32 is secured to the upper end thereof by means of the bolt 34. The handle 32 has the angular member 36 secured thereto which extends outwardly over the edge of the bowl and has secured thereto the operating member 38.

The light. control handle 32 extends on both sides of the light control tube 30 and immediately above the tube is formed with a countersink 40'. The handle 32 is provided with diametrically opposed threaded openings 42 which mate with suitable openings in a retainer plate 44 and a cover 46. Suitable screws 47 pass through the openings in the cover and retainer plate and are screwed into the handle 32 rigidly to hold the parts together.

The cover plate 46 extends upwardly and over the edge of the bowl l0 and has a countersink indicated at 48. The center of the cover 46 is hollow or bored as indicated at 50 while the retainer plate 44 has a central opening 52 in which there is received the contact member 54 which includes the metallic conductor 60 secured within the insulation 56 having the annular flange 58. The conducting member 60 has a bore for the reception or" the wire 62 which leads to the horn. A machine screw 63 rigidly holds the wire in the metallic member 60. The wire 62 extends through the metallic member 60 and is secured to a metallic conducting washer 64 on the upper end of the contact member 54.

The body of the contact member 54 extends upwardly through the opening 52 in the retainer plate 44 while the flange 58 abuts against the bottom edge of the opening. Suitable portions 66 of the retainer plate are built into the countersink to form a more rigid structure and acctuately to position the parts.

A spiral spring 68 having but few turns and of relatively small diameter is positioned in the countersink 40 between the bottom thereof and the flange 58 and constantly urges the contact 54 upwardly against the retainer plate 44 or outwardly of the bowl 10. The coils of the spring are of increasingly smaller diameter so that when pressure is applied to the contact the spring will be flatwise collapsed for a purpose which will be later described.

The cover 46 is provided at the lower edge of the countersink 48 with four recesses '70, spaced 90 apart. There also are provided four other recesses '72 separated 90 apart and preferably from the recess at 70. This structure is best shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. The recesses '72 are smaller than the recesses '70.

The horn button is shown at '74 and is provided with a neck portion '76 which extends into the countersink 48 and into the bored portion of the cover 46. The neck portion '76 is provided with four T-shaped projections '78 which are of a width such that they may freely pass into and out of the slots '70 as is best shown in Figure 2. By depressing the horn button '74 to compress the spring 68 flatwise the narrow or leg portion of the Ts is depressed below the edge having the recesses '70 and '72. By now turning the button the projections '78 may be brought into alignment with the recesses '72 to cause the legs 80 thereof to fit thereinto and the broader or head portion of the T to strike against the underside of the edge containing the slots removably to retain the horn button in position. To remove the horn button it is only necessary to reverse the operation, that is, to depress the button against the tension of the spring 68 to cause the spring to flatten and the leg 80 of the T to be removed from the recess '72 and then to turn the button so that the projections 78 mate with the recesses '70 which will allow the button to be removed.

The neck 76 is hollow and is adapted to receive the contact plate 82 which has secured thereto the spring 84. The spring 84 is of a much larger diameter than the spring 68 and is much weaker. The bottom of the spring 84 rests on the retainer plate 44 and normally holds the horn button in the position shown in Figure 1. The central portion of the contact plate 82 has the contact button 86 secured thereto which is adapted to contact with the contact plate 64 when the horn button is depressed.

In the operation of the device the horn button will be depressed to bring the contacts 64 and 86 into engagement. This pressure will compress or close the spring 84 but will have substantially no effect on the spring 68 due to the fact that the spring 84 is much weaker. Pressures such as are ordinarily exerted on the horn button to sound the horn will have little or no eifect on the much stronger spring 68. It takes a much greater amount of pressure than is ordinarily used to sound the horn button to depress the spring 68.

The numeral 88 indicates an ornamental ring or bar secured in suitable openings in the horn button. The ring 88 may be omitted and forms no part of the invention.

Referring to Figure 5 the novel horn button of the invention is shown mounted on a steering wheel which has no tubular controls. The primed numerals indicate corresponding parts of Figure 1. A retaining cup 90 is secured in place by the nut 18. The edge of the cup has the two L- shaped slots 92 therein at diametrically opposed points and which are adapted to receive the tongues 94 on an inverted stepped cup 96 secured to the underside of the horn button 74. The cup 96 is secured by means of the contact plate 98 having contact 100 secured at its center. The contact plate 98 has the tongues 102 received in suitable openings in the cup to hold it in place. A flange 104 on the contact plate fits under a flange on the cup 96 to make a more rigid construction.

The usual wire 62' extends through the steering column and is secured to the metallic member 60 of a contact 54. The contact includes the insulating member 56'.

The coil spring 68 is positioned between the top of the nut 18 and the bottom of a plate 106 forming a part of the contact member 54. The plate 106 is held against a plate 108 in the cup 96 having a central opening to receive the contact 54'. A second spring 84 is positioned between the plate 108 and the upper contact plate 98 and urges the horn button to the position shown in Figure 5.

The operation of the structure of Figures 5 and 6 is essentially the same as that in Figures 1 to 4. By depressing the horn button 74' the operator will depress the relatively weaker spring 84' to cause the contacts 54 and 100 to engage to sound the horn. Ordinary pressure, such as pressure on the horn button to sound the horn, will be relatively light and insuflicient more than slightly to compress the relatively stronger spring 68. If it is desired to remove the horn button entirely a greater pressure is exerted on the button to compress the spring 68' and the button then rotated to throw the tongues 94 out of the ends of the slots 92 to cause the tongues to conform to open portion of the slots. The spring 68' will then raise the button out of the slots so that it may be readily removed.

The structure of Figures 7 to 10 inclusive is similar to that of Figures 5 to 6. The corresponding parts have been numbered as in Figure l but indicated with a second mark In this operation the cup shaped member 90" is inverted and is secured to the hub wheel 12 by means of the machine bolts 110 passing through suitable flanges in the cup 90". The machine screws 110 also secure in place cup 112 having the inwardly bent tongues 114 and having its upper rim flanged and turned back as at 118 to conform with the margin of the bowl 10". The cup 90 is stepped as indicated at 120, a spring 84 resting on the step and between the step and the horn button '74". The lower or stronger spring is indicated at 68" and presses upwardly against the insulation 56" of the contact 54" constantly to urge the insulation against the bottom of the cup 90'. The spring 84" normally retains the button '74" in the position shown in Figure '7.

The circumferential portion of the rim of the horn button 74 is provided with a pair of diametrically cpposite downwardly extending portions 119, each comprising a groove 121 and two pairs of fingers 122. Each pair of fingers 122 defines a recess 124 therebetween, the recess having a tapered bottom as indicated at 126 of Figure 10. Between the pairs of fingers 122 the horn button rim is open as shown at 128 and these open portions adapt the horn button to fit over and receive the tongues 114 when the horn button is to be applied or removed. By assembling the spring and contact and then pressing the horn button over the cup 112 so that the recesses 128 conform to the finger 114 the button may be depressed to compress the springs 68 and 84 to cause the button to be pushed downwardly to assume the position shown in Figure 10. By now rotating the button the grooves 121 will allow the fingers 114 to be received in the recess 124 and by now releasing the pressure on the button it will assume the full line positions of Figures 7 and 9. To remove the horn button '14 it is depressed to compress the springs 84 3;? and 68"-see Figure 10-to remove the fingers 114 from the recess 124 and it is then rotated to bring the recesses 128 over the fingers 114. The button can now be removed.

By referring to Figure 9 the full line position indicates the normal position of the button as shown in Figure 7. To sound the horn the operator depresses the button to the dotted line position to compress the spring 84" and bring the contacts 98" and 54" into contact. Ordinary pressure on the button will not depress the spring 68 and the pressure necessary to sound the horn and depress the spring 84" will not remove the finger 114 from the recess 124. In Figure 10 the button 74" has been fully compressed to close both springs 68 and 84".

I claim:

1. In a horn button switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles, means for supporting a horn button, a movable electric contact, a spring between said contact and means, means to limit the movement of the contact, a spring surrounding said contact, a depressible horn button over said last named spring, said button having a quick-detachable connection "at: with said first-named means, a contact on said button, said last named spring holding said contacts apart.

2. In a horn button switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles, means on the at} switch to retain the horn button, said means having a plurality of recesses some of which are larger than the others, said recesses extending be full width of said means, a plurality of projecticns on the horn button, said projections being smaller than the larger recesses but larger than the smaller ones, said projections capable of being projected through and past the larger reccsses and to be rotated under the smaller recesses, said projections engaging in the smaller 15 recesses and against the underside of said means removably to hold the horn button on the steering wheel.

3. In a horn button switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles, means to mount the switch, said means having a countersink for the reception of the horn button, the edge of said countersink having a plurality of recesses some of which are larger than the others, said recesses extending the full width of said edge, a plurality of projections on said button, said projections adapted to extend through said larger recesses when the button is applied to the countersink, said button capable of rotation under said edge to cause said projections to mate with the smaller recesses and abut the underside of said edge removably to hold said button in position.

4. In a switch for the steering wheels of automotive .vehiclcs having a horn button, means for mounting an electric terminal, a spring urging said terminal toward circuit closing position, a cover for the switch secured to said means and having a countersink to receive the button, means on the cover and button to form a quick-detachable connection between the button and cover but permitting movement between the button and cover to close a circuit, an electric contact on the button, a spring surrounding the terminal and urging the button away from the said terminal, said terminal and contact adapted to be engaged when the button is depressed.

5. In a horn button switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles, a spring in said switch, an electric terminal supported by said spring, a cover for the switch having a countersink with an open bottom, said terminal extending into said cover through said open bottom, a coil spring surrounding said terminal and being weaker than the first named spring, a contact secured to said weaker spring, a depressible horn button extending into said countersink over said contact and into engagement with the edge of said countersink, said engagement comprising a quickdetachable connection, the depressing of said button causing the engagement of said contact and terminal.

6. In a switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles having a horn button, an electric contact, a relatively strong spring supporting said contact and constantly urging it to circuit closing position, a relatively weaker spring surrounding 125 said contact but insulated therefrom, a contact secured to said horn button over said first named contact, said weaker spring being interposed between said contacts, and means on said horn button to form a quick detachable connection with 130 the said switch, the installation of said button placing said weaker spring under compression, said button adapted to be depressed to compress said weaker spring to cause said contacts to engage.

7. In a switch for the steering wheels of automotive vehicles having a horn button, an electric contact, a relatively strong spring supporting said contact, a relatively weaker spring surrounding said contact but insulated therefrom, a contact 140 secured to said horn button over said first named contact, said weaker spring being interposed between said contacts, and an interlocking tongue and slotted connection on said horn button and switch to form a quick-detachable connection, the 145 installation of said button placing said weaker spring under compression, said button adapted to be depressed to compress said weaker spring to cause said contacts to engage.

8. In a switch for the steering wheels of auto- 5 and a tongue on the horn button to form a quickdetachable connection with the said wheel, the installation of said button placing said weaker spring under compression, said button adapted to be depressed to compress said weaker spring to cause said contacts to engage.

WALTER A. KULL. 

